Reflections on Independence Day 2016!

Good Evening Dear Ones!

Happy July 4th, Independence Day, and We All Matter Monday! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day with your families and your fur babies are safe from loud noises. I have been pondering many things this day and remembering July 4th's past and present. Mostly to me this is more of a day of introspection and epiphanies. This may be the birthday of our country and yes we do celebrate being disengaged from Britain but it is also a time of great learning and a reminder that everything the Founders fought for are at stake and also need to be given a time of spit and polish and a great reality check  I have come to realization that we need to travel the pathway again to  hang and light lanterns of freedom again. We have much work to do. If we think taking backward steps will make us feel free and an American again ,we must relearn our history. Every time a right is denied to one of our family members our freedom is chipped away. Chipping away at our universal human rights makes us less a united family and more or of a terribly divided set of marginalized groupings. We must remember that when one member of our family lacks basic and expanded rights we lack those rights too. Tonight we are going to take a long pause and remember and ponder what makes us free and what doesn't. We then must pray and set out on a course of action to bring rights to our brothers and sisters who do not have them. 

Let us ponder and listen to this:

Lincoln Portrait



God, we come to you and light our lanterns of peace and liberty once again as a reminder that we have much work to do. We pray that every person in this nation may be afforded universal human rights and that these rights may come soon so that we all may be one. We light our Lanterns in solidarity with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Iraq, and the United States who have been affected by terrorist acts these past few weeks. We pray for the lives lost and light a lantern of hope and peace in their memory.  We light our lanterns of  peace and liberty in remembrance of those who continue to struggle on the margins of society. We pray that we may have courage to fight for their rights as human beings and children of God. We light our lanterns in memory of our family members who fought to bring this country into being. We pray for justice for all of our family members who are seeking it. We pray that we may be tolerant of all people who practice different faiths than ours. We pray this night that we may begin to bring everyone into our country as a united not divided people. We light our lanterns of freedom and welcome on the highest spire and tallest building signaling this is your new home and we welcome you here. We light our lanterns of freedom for all refugees and those who come seeking a better place in which to live. We pray for compassionate immigration reform. We pray that we all may be one, all may be free, and all may know peace and freedom equally. Amen. 

Two Sets of prayers to use tonight!

God we pray for our country and its leaders that they in the words of the prophet Micah "Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God"

God we pray for our ancestors who brought forth liberty to a fledgling nation.

God we pray for our future leaders that they may educate themselves wisely in the history of this country and its governance.

God we pray for peace in our land that we may learn that all means all and not some and that all of us are equal in the sight of God and in the laws of this land/

God we pray for peace in this fragile and broken world of ours that all our family members  may come to know and enjoy the freedoms we have been given.

God we pray for all those concerns that are on our hearts tonight remembering_________________

God we thank you for giving us the gift of free will and all other gifts that you shower upon us every day. 

God we pray that we may come to know each other as brothers and sisters better and see you in them.

God we pray this prayer for our Country from THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER

 Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

A reminder from the  Founders!

Every family member around the world must be afforded these same rights and this extends to our country as well. We aren't left off the hook about this. In God's world all means all not some. We have to strive every day for human and civil rights of all our family members no matter who they are or where they live, move, or be  We all  must come to terms that we all have an interdependence upon and with each other. If we don't this world will continue down a slippery slope where we will be worse off than we are now.  We also must remember that this world belongs not to us, but to God the Creator who made everything on the planet and that includes us.  

Let us pray and take time to reflect upon this day and remember all of our forefathers and foremothers who made our country what it is today.

Dear God you created this world so that we might be interdependent upon and with each other, help us to remember that we are called to be family members and we aren't let off the hook by deciding who gets in or who is left out. God you tell us that we must remember the least of these. Help us to do just that in our every day living.

God we pray for peace, justice, and human rights throughout the world that you have made and that all of our family members may live where there is no war,abuse, persecution of any kind, injustice, and inequality.

We pray this day for all who are ill and awaiting news of diagnosis. We remember especially those who are hospitalized and in long term care facilities  during holiday weekends.

We pray for all pets who are ill and pet owners who are caring for their animal family members. 

We pray for all those who are lonely during holiday time that they may find comfort and that we may reach out our arms of love and compassion to them. We remember especially the homeless, the hungry, the unemployed, and all those suffering from mental illness of any kind.

We pray this night for all who are out and about and for their safety and alertness as they drive. We pray also that their vehicles may be free of things that distract then,

We give thanks to you O God for this our country and for the liberties that we enjoy. Help us never to take the gifts of liberty, justice, human and civil rights for granted and that we may continually reminded of these necessary things that make us free. Help us also to fight for the rights of those who have none and be willing to speak truth to power. May we continue to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you O, God.

We pray especially for this day remembering all who have asked us to pray for them. We now name these our family members before you_________________. We pray for the healing of body, mind, and spirit and what ever else may be happening with them.

God we come to you this night still with heavy hearts and we pray as we have been doing for the past 3 weeks remembering our brothers and sisters who perished at Pulse in Orlando. We pray and remember  them each by name and this night and respond with "Let light perpetual shine upon them"

Amanda Alvear, 25 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon her"

Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Cory James Connell, 21 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon her"

Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon her"

Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Frank Hernandez, 27 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him

Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon her"

Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Kimberly Morris, 37 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon her"

Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon her"

Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old

"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon her"

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old

"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old
"Let light perpetual shine upon him"

God we lift up these precious ones to you as a reminder that life is precious and that we know that you know us all by name and love us. We pray that we  may come together in memory and in honor of all your children to affect positive change in this fragile and broken world that you have made. Amen.

We pray and remember all of those in the LGBTQ community who have lost their lives in seeking human rights and by being who God made them to be. We pray this night for every person of the LGBTQ community who will feel unsafe, have their lives threatened. We pray for those who will die at the hands of another or by suicide this night. We pray that we as their brothers and sisters may stand with them, love them, and support them and offer any help we can. Loving and merciful God. Hear our prayer. 

A Prayer attributed to St. Francis

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is
hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where
there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to
be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen.

Watchful Jesus, Watch over all your children and all of creation this night as we rest gentle in your arms.

We offer our own prayers, thanksgivings, remembrances, and celebrations in the stillness and quietness of our souls remembering especially________________

All this we ask in the Holy Name of God. Amen.

Good Night Dear ones! Have a blessed and Safe Night! I love you and give thanks to God for you this night  and always!

With love,

Sara